Microthoracoscopy: at the cutting edge of thoracic surgery.
Two 2-mm microthoracoscopies were performed using two ports (Minisite 2-mm disposable introducer and Minisite 2-mm 0 degrees laparoscope; U.S. Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT). A 47-year-old man with multiple bilateral pleural lesions had a right diagnostic 2-mm microthoracoscopy and multiple microthoracoscopic biopsies. He was discharged the next day with minimal discomfort and returned to work the following day. The second patient was a 74-year-old woman, 10 years after left radical mastectomy for carcinoma, with a multitude of medical problems and a right recurrent pleural effusion. She underwent a right diagnostic 2-mm microthoracoscopy, multiple microthoracoscopic biopsies, and electrocoagulation pleurodesis. She was not discharged because of concurrent conditions. She had no disability and no pain whatsoever from the procedure.
d'Alessandro
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Department of Surgery, St. John's Episcopal Hospital, Smithtown, New York 11787, USA.
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020708:Thoracoscopes; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods